Building a cage ~

[SKB_Hamsters]

Your DIY cage looks amazing and such a good size. I'm looking forward to seeing your completed cage.
Regarding to the handles if you are unsure about the handles you could leave them off for now - if the lid is going to be hinged - and try the cage without and see whether you will need handles or not. When building my similar sized DIY cage I also was going to put handles on the lid but after trying the lid without handles - I decided to leave the handles off as the lid opens easily without. But I honestly think your handles look fine if you decide to have them.

[Rhine]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Oh wow - love the grid roof! I see what you mean about the handles. That style would probably look better the other way round on the side wood pieces - but that might not help open the top easily.

I was just looking at these - they don't have handles I think - but they are hinged at the back. Is yours hinged at the back? If not, and the roof just lifts off completely, I would put the handles on the side pieces of wood. If it's hinged at the back maybe you just need a centre knob?

Hamster Homes Shop - Homes & Accessories for Small Pets

I was SO happy when i found the grid shelf!
So much easier to work with, than normal mesh

Was going to just lift the lid off, that's why i bought two handles!
After lifting the lid a few times, i desided hinges would be best..
It's not THAT heavy.. but still
So now i'm left with two handles, and a knob from the old cage!

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

Your DIY cage looks amazing and such a good size. I'm looking forward to seeing your completed cage.
Regarding to the handles if you are unsure about the handles you could leave them off for now - if the lid is going to be hinged - and try the cage without and see whether you will need handles or not. When building my similar sized DIY cage I also was going to put handles on the lid but after trying the lid without handles - I decided to leave the handles off as the lid opens easily without. But I honestly think your handles look fine if you decide to have them.

Thanks
I think you're right, about just leaving the handles off for now.
I just feel bad buying a lot of stuff, and not using them! Haha
But i might need them for something else.

[Pebbles82]

I have seen people use grids like that before, for lids on bin cages but never knew where you could find them.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Originally Posted by Rhine

Thanks
I think you're right, about just leaving the handles off for now.
I just feel bad buying a lot of stuff, and not using them! Haha
But i might need them for something else.

I was like that when building my cage bought items to use and haven't used them but sometimes these items can be handy to have around.

[Rhine]

The cage is all done!
.. or i was thinking about giving the inside a coat of clear plastikote.
Might do that tomorrow

[Pebbles82]

It looks fantastic! Lucky hammy I don't think you'll need plastikote really - melamine is sort of plastikoted already. With just melamine and metal you won't have anything that needs waterproofing - it's just for wood items I think. Or do you mean the joins where the melamine is cut?

[Rhine]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

It looks fantastic! Lucky hammy I don't think you'll need plastikote really - melamine is sort of plastikoted already. With just melamine and metal you won't have anything that needs waterproofing - it's just for wood items I think. Or do you mean the joins where the melamine is cut?

Thanks
I'm really happy with it!
Yes, was thinking of plastikoting where the melamine is cut, or maybe the whole bottom plate!
.. But, i've used aquarium sealant, so it really should be waterproof already

[flowerfairy]

That looks brilliant. Love the grids. Where did you get them?

[Pebbles82]

Aquarium sealant at the joints should do the trick. The melamine itself should be more waterproof than plastikote Doesn't sound like plastikote is needed. I know with the eco habitat (which has a wood base) some people just used to put sheets of correx on the bottom (plastic coated corrugated cardboard) just in case wee filtered down to the bottom and stained the wood, but melamine is good stuff for waterproofing and wiping clean.

When do you get your hammy?! I bet you're excited! The cage will need airing well so all the smells from the aquarium sealant have gone - maybe a week? I'm not sure. And it's a good idea to have the set up well and truly finished before putting a hammy in (which you probably already know) so you don't have to make lots of changes afterwards while they're settling in and stress them out.

I've watched videos of some of the German tanks like that being set up and they seem to place everything (house wheel, platform, toys etc, on the bottom first to work out where to put them all. Then take them out, put loads of substrate in, put them back and then add more substrate.

I'm not that detailed and put all the substrate in first and push things down into it a bit! What hammy are you getting? And have you decided on a wheel? Or platform? A level might be good in there.

Sorry I just can't wait to see it finished and set up lol

[Rhine]

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

That looks brilliant. Love the grids. Where did you get them?

Thanks
I bought it at a hardware store.. found them next to some melamine shelf plates.

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Aquarium sealant at the joints should do the trick. The melamine itself should be more waterproof than plastikote Doesn't sound like plastikote is needed. I know with the eco habitat (which has a wood base) some people just used to put sheets of correx on the bottom (plastic coated corrugated cardboard) just in case wee filtered down to the bottom and stained the wood, but melamine is good stuff for waterproofing and wiping clean.

When do you get your hammy?! I bet you're excited! The cage will need airing well so all the smells from the aquarium sealant have gone - maybe a week? I'm not sure. And it's a good idea to have the set up well and truly finished before putting a hammy in (which you probably already know) so you don't have to make lots of changes afterwards while they're settling in and stress them out.

I've watched videos of some of the German tanks like that being set up and they seem to place everything (house wheel, platform, toys etc, on the bottom first to work out where to put them all. Then take them out, put loads of substrate in, put them back and then add more substrate.

I'm not that detailed and put all the substrate in first and push things down into it a bit! What hammy are you getting? And have you decided on a wheel? Or platform? A level might be good in there.

Sorry I just can't wait to see it finished and set up lol

Haha, oh wow.. that's a lot of questions!
I love it

You're right about the plastikote.. i don't need it!
Ill just skip it at go on making my cage ready.
I did the aquarium sealant two days ago, and it stoped smelling yesterday.
But ill still wait untill tomorrow before starting to place things in the cage
Wish i could do it tonight, then i could go get my hamster tomorrow, but i know i should take my time.. making sure everything is ready!

Do you really think i should wait a week after applying the aquarium sealant?

I'm just SO excited.. wish i could go get my hammy today.
I got everything ready, waiting for the cage to air out is so boring, haha..
He's just waiting for me, picked him out a week ago
I had been looking at this cute grey syrian.. but ended up picking someone else!
He was so careful, and calm.. came over to say hello, while the rest of them were sleeping

I've already been trying to figure out how to place everything, but doing it on the floor infront of the cage isn't helping much!
I'm thinking about making a platform, i'm just having some problems figuring out how i want it!.. and if i want two or just one.

How much substrate should i put in?
I think i need to make a platform the wheel can stand on..

I bought a wooden wheel, it's only 28cm tho.
I probably should have bought a 30cm one, but really.. i thought it was that big! ... It's huge!

Oh well, if he get's really big.. i just have to buy a new one

My cat is really curious, wondering why i got this big cage in my room!
He didn't care much about the hamster last time, so it's probably gonna work out just fine